Strip feeding and bursting device



Aug. 15, 1944. I A. 1.. ZENT 2,355,690 v STRIP FEEDING AND BURSTING DEVICE Filed Aug. 20/ 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ABRAM L ZE/VT ATTO EY Aug. 15, 1944. A; L. ZE NT 2,355,690

STRIP FEEDING AND BURSTING DEVICE Filed Aug. 20, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q Q! INVENTOR ABRA M L. ZE/VT 1, I 1 WW Aug. 15, 1944. v .A,| EN 2,355,690

STRIP FEEDING AND BURSTING DEVICE Filed Aug. 20 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig.5

INVENTOR ABAAM L. ZE/VT AV'ORNEY Aug. 15, 1944. ZENT 2,355,690

STRIP FEEDING AND BURS TING DEVICE Filed Aug. 20, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 v INVENTOR ABRAM z. Zf/VT 4 A O NEY Au .15,1944. T 2,355,690

- STRIP FEEDING AND B URSTING DEVICE Filed Aug. 20, 1942 5 Sheets$heet 5 Z .Fiqfi 14 2a ENTOR ATTORNEY AB MLZE/VTV Patented Aug. 15, 1944 STRIP FEEDING AND BURSTING DEVICE Abram L. Zent, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The StandardRegister Company, Dayton, Ohio, a:

corporation of Ohio Application August 20, 1942, Serial No. 455,461

(Cl. Idl -84.5.)

22 Claims.

This invention pertains to stripfeeding and' severing devices, and. more particularly to an automaticbursting machine for progressively advancing a continuous strip of material past a severing, position andv successively dividing the strip transversely into individual sheets.

In the operation of modern businesstransaction, recording and billing machines, and other writing, imprinting and addressing apparatus, it

is quite common practice. to produce successions of legends, imprints, or messages at longitudinally spaced intervals upon continuous strips of stationery, and subsequently divide the strips into individual sheets, each bearing imprinted or written matter. For convenience in dividing the strips into sheets of uniform length,the strips are usually provided with longitudinallyspaced transverse, scoredor weakened division lines at uniformly spaced intervals. The present apparatus is designed to auto matically divide such strips at-the prescribed intervals at a very rapid rate, by momentarily subjecting advanced portions of the strip to tensionoperation of strip feeding and severing mechanisms, whereby they may not only be economically manufactured and operated, but'will be moreefficient in use, automatic in operation, uniform in action, having relatively few operating parts, and be unlikely to get out of 'repair.

A further object of the invention is to provide ,a stripfeedingand severing apparatus, which isof compact form, relatively small in size, and

.- rapid in operation.

- A further object of the invention is to pro- ;vide an improved form of feeding means, by

which the'strip tobe severed is intermittently advanced in timed sequence with the severing operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an-improved strip tensioning device and actuating means I therefor. V

A further object of the invention is to provide gagstrip feeding and severing machine having the I advantageous structural features and inherent meritorious characteristics, and the mode of ops eration herein set forth.

, With the above primary andother incidental objects m view as will more fully appear in the I specification, the invention intended to be'protected by Letters Patentconsists of the features of construction, the part'sand combinations thereof, and the mode. of operation, or their equivalents, as. hereinafter.- described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying. drawings, wherein is shown the prefcrredbutobviously, not necessarily the only form of embodiment of'the invention,

Fig. 1 is atop plan view-of an assembled strip feeding and severing machine embodying the present invention. 7

Fig. 2 is aside elevation thereof viewed from the topof Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is. aside elevation from.the.left of Fig'. 2.

Fig. 4 is anend elevation fromthe right" of Fig. 2. a

Fig. 5 is a detail view partly broken away. of the gear drivingtrainshownin Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is ayertical sectional view.

Fig. 7 is. a detail sectional view ofthe frictional drive clutchforthe strip feedinglmeans.

Figs. 8, 9. and. 10 are details of the frictional clutch assembly shown in Fig. '11

Fig. 11 is a detail iviewofa modification of the tensioning rollers.

Like parts are indicated .by similar. characters of reference throughoutthe several views;

Referring to the drawings, the frame of"the machine comprises a pair offrelatively spaced vertical end plates land Zrigidljrintrconnected with eachother bytransverse tie-rods 3 -4. At the front of the machine- (rightofF'ig. 4'and left of Fig. 6) is a hingeditray [torec'eive a supply packet of strip ma'terial tubesevered.

- The tray 4 is pivoted at5 anmproviddwitha helical tractilespringfi, the connection of'which is movable to and .fr'opast dead center position to hold the tray alternately in extended 'a'ndaretracted positions. Atthe oppositesid of the machine is an inclinedvtablel upon which are .col-

lected the individual sheets into. whichthe-stiip is divided. Journaled intheend plates adjacent the front-of the machine isa revoluble .fed shaft 8, preferably, butnot necessarily, .carryingajpair of axially. adjustable p'in wheels '9 for engagement in. marginalypunched holes the strip. 'to' be severed,

While positive feeding of the strip. is quitedesirable, it is not essential 'a'ndtheshaft .afmaybe provided with a friction feed roller. or otherstrip engaging. means.. Intermediate .the piniwl'ieels 9 are a=seriesof curved, fiat guide fingers lfi inou'nted on'a supporting shaft H in parallel 'ojifs'et relation with the pin wheel shaft" 8; The -guid fingers --support the advancing strip. intermediate the pin wheels. overlying each pin wheel is a slotted guide finger l2 by which the punched margins of the pin wheels. The upper clamp bar I4 is mounted in vertical guides on the end frames for alternating motion toward and from the fixed clamp bar I3. Helical springs l5 intermediate the bars tend to elevate the upper bar l4 after each depression thereof. In spaced relation rearwardly of the clamp bars I3-l4 is a pair of coacting cam rollers l6|1, each having a segmental resilient tenacious pad I8 of rubber or other analogous material. v

" The pads l8 project peripherally beyond the pe- "ripheries of the-rollers through limited registering portions thereof and comprise interengaging cam faces. The'rollers are interconnected by a pair of intermeshing gears-l9 (at'left of Fig. 2 and shown in Fig. 3) for'unison rotation so that "thepads' l8" oppose each other with the strip of material interposed thereb etween during a portion of each revolution. The relation of the rollers l5 and l! is such that during a portion of their ro-" bars l3-l'4 by rotation of the pin wheels 9. Upon continued rotation of the rollers IG-l'l the advanced portion of the strip is gripped in advance of a transverse'division line between the tenacious pads [8. The clamp bar 'I4-is simultaneously depressed intogripping engagement with the strip- .back of the transverse weakened division line to "momentarily snub the strip while the roller pads continue to exert pulling tension thereon. During "this tensioning period, the strip feeding pin wheels 9 aremomentarily arrested. The tension exerted upon" the strip by the .gripping' segments l8 of the rollers against the resistance of the clamp bars l 3 l4 exceeds the tensile strength of the trans- "verse weakened division line, then positioned intermediate the clampbars androllers, and the strip fails and' separates along the preformed weakened division line; v The several cooperating parts are actuated in timed sequence bya driving motor 20 located in the bottom of the frame (Fig. 2) connected by a drive beltfl2l with a pulley 22- on'a driven shaft 23 journaled in'the'e'nd' frames and extending across themachine below the rollers 16-! l. The "drive shaft 23 carries at its right hand extremity, Fig.2, a small gear pinion 24 which meshes with a large gear wheel 25 upon the shaft of the 1 upper roller I'I, 'to'drive the roller at increased Ispeed. '(See Fig.4.) The two rollers It and I1 Qar'e'interconnected for unison rotation by the jgearsjjfljatftheir left extremities, as viewed in Fig. 2, and a's'appears in Fig.3. The upper roller It carries at each end for unison rotation therewith a rotary cam 26, which at each revolution engages one end of a medially pivoted rocker 21 jfmounted on" the end frame. One end of the .r'ocker is provided with a'roller 28 with'which the actuating" cam engages, The opposite end of the "rockeroverhangs and bears upon the depressible ,clamp barsl4. The rocker2l operatestode sistance of its elevating springs in timed relation with each rotation of the rollers. The de pressed clamp bar grips the interposed portion of the strip to resist the tensioning influence of the rollers l6-I| as the pads l8 thereof engage the strip and tend to advance it against the resistance of the clamp bars.

The strip material is advanced step by step between the clamp bars and thence between the rollers intermediate the severing engagement thereof with the strip during succeeding cycles.

I The driving train for the feed shaft 8 derives its by a spring 46.

power from the large gear on the upper tension roll shaft, which meshes with a gear pinion 29 loosely journaled on a revoluble stub shaft 30 journaled in a hub 3| which projects inwardly from the end frame 2. Fast upon the stub shaft 30 at the inner side of the gear 29 for unison rotation is a notched disc 32, having therein a peripheral notch 33. The gear 29 is operatively connected with the revoluble stub shaft 3|] by a friction slip clutch of any suitable construction. For illustrative purpose, but without limiting the invention to the particular form of friction drive assembly illustrated, there is shown keyed upon the rotary stub shaft 30 at the outer side of the loose gear 29 a second disc 34. Interposed between the loose gear 29 and the respective discs 32 and 34 are friction discs 35, keyed to the gear for unison rotation by studs 36 on the gear which engages holes 3'! in the friction discs 35. The gear 29 has therein a series of spaced holes 38, as shown in Fig. 8, in each of which is a helical expansion spring 39 which exerts its influence in opposite directions against the interposed friction discs and thence against the discs 32 and 34 fast upon the shaft 30. The construction is such that the rotation of the gear 29 produces rotation of the stub shaft 30 so long as the latter is free to turn. However, upon arrest of the shaft 30 the gear 29 continues to rotate by slipping the friction discs upon the spaced discs 32 and 34.

Secured on the end of the stub shaft 30 for unison rotation is a small change gear pinion 43 with which meshes a gear member 4| carried by a swinging arm 42 pivoted concentric with the drive shaft 8. By swinging adjustment of the arm 42, the gear 4| may be intermeshed with interchangeable gears of different size. The

at 44 a bifurcated detent pawl 45, one arm of which extends in proximity to the periphery of the rotary disc 32, toward which it is pressed The detent pawl 45 engages in he notch 33 to stop the rotation of the disc,

and with it the stub shaft 30 and the feed shaft driving train. The detent is oscillated out of its engagement in the notch 33 to permit operation of the feed shaft driving train by a cam 41 on the lower tensioning roll shaft, as shown in Fig. 5.

During each rotation of the tensioning roll I! the cam '41'engages the detent arm 48 to disengage the locking pawl from the disc 32 and hold it disengaged during approximately half the cycle of operation, during which time the feed shaft press the clamp bar I4 against the yielding reand pin wheels are in motion and operate to adjvance the strip adistance determihed by, the ratio ftiori in its" form, proportions, detail construction jandarrangement of parts without departing from jthe 'principl'e involved or sacrificing any'of its advantages.

- Whilein order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or les specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features Shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise" the preferred form of several modes of putting the i invention into effect, and the invention is thereo e claimed many of its forms or modificans within the legitimate and valid scope of "the appended claims "Having thus described my. invention, I claim:

- 1. A strip feeding and severing apparatus, f wherein a continuous "s'trip of'material having a series of'longitudinally space'dtransverse divin lines is advanced past a severing position at whichfsucceeding portions thereof aresubjected to' pulling tension in excess of the tensile strength a weakened division line within the tensioned areaor the strip, including a' continuous driving member, an intennittently operative strip feed- ;ing device, actuating means therefor, including "a friction clutch, a locking detent for tempoi'a'rily maintaining theistrip feeding device idle while the driving member effects slipping of the frictional clutch, a pair of relatively movable fclampbars betwe'enw'hich the terminal portion fjof 'thestrip is advanced by the strip feeding deviceduring periodic operation thereof, a pair of ""continuously rotating rollers 'b'eyondth'e clamp {b' rsbetween which theterminal portion of the [strip is advanced by thejstrip feeding device and brought to rest by the arrest of the feeding device, at least one of the rollers havingafcam face cofoperative 'with'the otherrollerjto grip the strip therebetween and tension the terminal portion T thereof against the resistance of the clamping,

action of the clamp bars, a cam rotating in unison with the rollers, a rocker member actuated thereby, one-end of which has operative engagement with one of theclamp bars to effect strip gripping action thereof to resist thet'ensioning influence of thefrollers beyond the tensile strength of a weakened division line within the tensioned area of the strip, and tripping: means berating in unison "with'th'e rotation of the 1 11ers; rer disengaging the strip feeding detent "permit=further p'erative action of the strip feeding device in synchronism with the rotation ofthe rollers and relative movement or the clamp bars; 1 p 21A strip feeding wherein a continuous 'stripof material having -"lon'g'itud-inally spaced transverse weakened divis sasvaheea past a severing position andsevering apparatus,--

division line thereof, intermittently operative strip feeding means for advancing the strip through successive step by step movements, a pair of relatively movable clamp bars between which the terminal portion of the strip is successively advanced, a pair of rollers located in the path of the strip beyond the clamp bars, the adjacent faces of the rollers being separated during a portion of their rotation to freely receive therebetween the advanced terminal of the strip, a cam area on at least one of the rollers cooperative with the other roller to grip the interposed portion of the strip during 'a portion of the rotation of the rollers to subjectthe strip to pulling tension which is resisted by the engagement of the clamp bars with the strip, and actuating means for operating the clamp bars in timed sequence with the rotation of the rollers.

3. A strip feeding and severing apparatus, wherein a continuous strip of material is progressively divided into individual sheets upon preformed longitudinally spaced transverse weakened division lines by subjecting succeeding portions of the strip to pulling tension in excess of the tensile strength of a transverse weakened line within the tensioned area, including an intermittently operative strip feeding device, intermittently operative stripclamping means for immovably gripping a portion of the strip advanced by the strip feeding device, and a pair of tensioning rollers beyond the clamping means, between which the terminal portion of the strip is advanced, a cam face on at least one of the rollers cooperative with the other roller to grip the interposed portion of the strip and subject it to pulling tension against the resistance of the clamping means, a continuously operating driving member common to the strip feeding device, the clamping means and the tensioning'roller s, and means for effecting operation of the said parts in timed sequence. v

4. A strip feeding and severing apparatus, wherein a continuous strip of material is progressively divided into individual sheets upon preformed longitudinally spaced transverse weakened division lines'by subjecting succeeding portions of the strip to pulling tension in excess of the tensile strength of atransverse weakened line within the tensioned area, an intermittently operable strip feeding device, a clamp means additional to the strip feeding device intermittently engageable with the strip alternately with the operation of the'strip feeding device, and a pair of tensioning rollers intermittently engageable with an advanced portion of the strip during the period of strip engagement of the clamping means and exertingtensioning influence thereonaga'inst the resistance of the clamping 'means in excess of the tensile strength o'f a division line within the tensioned area, and i means for effecting strip feeding, clamping and "tensioning actio'nin predetermined sequence.

5 5; A strip' feeding and tensioning apparatus, including a stripfeeding devicefa reciprocatory s clainping' ineinber, a ten'sioning roller, a rocker member os'cillatedby rotation of the tensio'ning {roller to effectreciprocation of the clamping member into engagement w'iththe strip to resist tensioninginfiuence'of the roller, and a detent for temporarily arresting the strip feeding device in timed sequence with theclarhping and tensioning operations;

" A strip'fee'dihg andsevering apparatus; in-

eluding strip feeding device, actuating'ineans therefor-j strip tensioni'ngdevices; for intermitadvanced by the strip feeding device beyond the tensilestrength of the tensioned area of the strip, and an arresting device for the strip feeding device automatically controlled in synchronism with thestrip tensioning devices for temporarily arresting the strip feeding device and subsequently releasing the same in alternation .with the operation of the strip tensioning devices.

7. A strip feeding and severing apparatus, including a strip feeding device, actuating means therefor, power transmitting means, including a friction clutch, strip tensioning devices, arresting means for the strip feeding device, controlled by. the strip tensioning devices for effecting operation of the strip feeding device alternately with the operation of the strip tensioning devices, the friction clutch being adapted to slip during periods of non-operation of the strip feeding device.

8. A strip feeding and severing apparatus, in-

cluding a strip feeding device, a strip clamping member intermittently engageable with the strip,

a strip tensioning roller operative against the resistance of the clamping member to tension an intermediate portion of the strip beyond the tensile strength thereof, a medially pivoted lever, a cam rotating in unison with the roller engageable with one end of the lever, the opposite end of which is pressed into engagement with the strip clamping member to actuate the clamping member into engagement with the strip.

10. A strip feeding and severing apparatus, including a strip feeding device, a strip clamping member intermittently engageable with the strip, a strip tensioning roller operative against the resistance of the clamping member to tension an, intermediate portion of the strip beyond the tensile strength thereof, and a detent for the strip feeding device movable into and out of operative relation therewith in timed relation with the rotation of the tensionin roller, the construction and arrangement being such that the strip feeding device and the strip clamping and tensioning members are alternatively operative.

11. A strip feeding apparatus, wherein a continuous strip of material is advanced through successive step by step movements, a strip feeding device, actuating means therefor, including a revoluble shaft, a driving member loosely mounted thereon for independent rotation, friction clutch elements normally connecting the shaft and driving member for unison rotation "but enabling independent rotation of the driving element when the shaft is held against rotation, a notched disc connected with' the shaft for unison rotation and a detent engageable with the notched disc for temporarily arrestingthe rotation of the shaft.

12. A strip feeding and severing apparatus,

tently tensioninga portion of a strip of material for the strip severing device including a frictional slip connection adapted to normally drive the strip feeding device, a detent operable to arrest the strip feeding device, and control means therefor under influence of the strip severing devices for automatically engaging and disengaging the detent to effect operation of the strip feeding device alternately with operation of the strip severing devices.

13. A strip feeding and severing apparatus, wherein a continuous strip of material is advanced past a severing position at which it is tensioned beyond the tensile strength of the material, including a strip feeding device, a gripper engaging the stri to resist its advancement alternately with eriodic advancement thereof by the strip feeding device, and a roller having areas of different radial extent relative to which the strip is advanced by the strip feeding device, the area of greater radial extent of which is engageable with the strip during the period of engagement thereof by the gripper to subject the portion of the strip intermediate the gripper and the roller to tension in excess of the tensile strength thereof.

14. A strip feeding and severing apparatus, wherein a continuous strip of material is divided into individual sheets by being successively tensioned beyond the tensile strength of the tensioned areas thereof, including a strip feeding device, strip tensioning means includinga reciprocatory clamp bar, and a cam roller in relatively spaced relation along the path of travel of the strip relative to which the strip is advanced by the strip feeding device, and motion transmitting means for transmitting motion from the roller to the reciprocatory bar in timed'relation with the advancement of the strip by the strip feeding device.

15. A strip feeding and severing apparatus, wherein a continuous strip of material is divided into individual sheets by being successively tensioned beyond the tensile strength of the tensioned areas thereof, including a strip feeding device, a reciprocatory clamp bar, and a rotary tensioning roller having faces of different radial extent, and common actuating means therefor vices, a strip. feedingdevice, actuatingmeans and motion transmitting means for intermittently operating the strip feeding device to advance the strip through successive step by step movements, and for transmitting continuous rotary motion to the tensioning roller and intermittent strip engaging motion to the reciprocatory clamp bar alternately with the actuation of the strip feeding device, the faces of greater and less radius of the roller being positioned to engage the strip and subject it to pulling tension only during the period that the strip is engaged by the clamp bar and the strip feeding device is idle.

16. A strip feeding and severing apparatus, including an intermittently operable strip feeding device for advancing a strip through successive stepby step movements, a strip tensioning device having intermittent engagement-with the advanced terminal portion of the strip alternately with the operation of the strip feeding device and a clamping device engageable with the strip intermediate the points of engagement of the feeding and tensioning devicesduring the engagement of the strip tensioning device, the construction and arrangementrbeing such that the advancement of the strip is arrested while being tensioned beyond the' rtensile resistance of a transverse weakened line in the portion of the strip intermediate the tensioning and clamping devices.

17. Astrip feeding and severing apparatus, an intermittently operable strip feeding device for advancing a continuous strip of material having longitudinally spaced transverse weakened lines through a step by step movement, a pair of rotary rollers having a peripheral speed greater than the speed of advancement of the strip by the feeding device, between which the terminal portion of the strip is advanced by the strip feeding device, at least one of the rollers having a segmental face coacting with the other roller to momentarily grasp the intermediate terminal portion of the strip and impart thereto an accelerated advance feeding impulse, and a vibratory clamp bar operated in timed relation with the rotation of the rollers to grip the strip and resist the accelerated feeding influence of the rollers thereon to tension an intermediate portion of the strip beyond the tensile strength of a transverse weakened line within the tensioned area of the strip.

18. A strip feeding and severing apparatus, including strip feeding device for advancing past a severing position a continuous strip of material having longitudinally spaced transverse weakened lines, a pair of spaced rollers operating at a peripheral speed greater than the lineal speed of the strip between which the terminal portion of the strip is freely advanced, at least one of the rollers having a segmental portion coacting with the other roller to grasp the intermediate portion of the strip and impart thereto an advance feedin impulse at an accelerated speed, a pressure bar intermittently engageable with the strip to momentarily resist acceleration of the speed thereof, and a cam rotating in unison with one of the rollers for actuating the pressure bar in one direction, and spring tension means for retracting the bar, the bar and rollers being effective to tension an intermediate portion of the strip beyond the tensile resistance of a weakened division line therein.

19. A strip feeding and severing apparatus, including an intermittently operative strip feeding device, a strip tensioning device operable alternately with the operative periods of the feeding device, a strip snubbing device disposed in advance spaced relation with the feeding devices and operable synchronously with the tensioning device to protect the feeding device from pulling influence of the tensioning device while an intermediate portion of the strip is tensioned beyond the tensile strength of a transverse weakened line included in the tensioned area, and actuating means for operating the strip feeding and tensioning devices in alternating sequence.

20. A strip feeding and severing apparatus, including a. strip feeding device, a strip tensioning device operative alternately with periods of operation of the strip feeding device, a separate strip snubbing device disposed intermediate the strip feeding and strip tensioning devices operable in timed relation with the strip tensioning device to intermittently tension an intermediate ortion of the strip beyond the tensile strength of a transverse weakened line within the tensioned area thereof, driving means for the several devices and interrupter means for periodically rendering the driving means ineffective to drive the strip feeding device.

21. A strip feeding and severing apparatus, including a strip feeding device, a strip severing device in spaced relation therewith and a pair of clamp bars disposed intermediate the feeding and tensioning devices and operative in timed sequence therewith to momentarily grip the strip and resist pulling influence of the tensioning device While a portion of the strip intermediate the clamp bars and the tension device is tensioned beyond the tensile strength of a transverse weakened line within the tensioned area thereof.

22. A strip feeding and severing apparatus, in-

eluding a strip feeding device, a strip tensioning device and a vibratory clamp bar interposed between the feeding and tensioning devices for momentarily gripping a passing strip in timed sequence with the operation of the feeding and tensioning to protect the trip feeding device from the pulling influence of the tensioning device while a portion of the strip intermediate the clamp bar and tensioning device is tensioned beyond the tensile strength of a transverse weakened line within such area.

ABRAM L. ZENT. 

